Big Scaries is a pop folk outfit hailing from Grand Rapids, MI, whose music evokes a sense of nostalgia and the spirited essence of youthful exploration. With influences from artists such as Radicalface, Bright Eyes, Edward Sharpe, and Fleet Foxes, their sound seamlessly blends emotive storytelling with captivating melodies.

Silk Tooth is a band from Grand Rapids that blends elements of folk, jazz, and rock into a unique, nostalgic sound. For fans of Steely Dan, Father John Misty, and Pinegrove.

Come on out to Speciation on April 4 to celebrate the launch of the Pleasant Peninsula fundraising campaign! This is a great opportunity to meet & mingle with muralists, artists, educators, & environmentalists who will be involved in Pleasant Pee this year. Plus, we've got an EPIC silent auction! Arts & crafts! Nature trivia! AND SO MUCH MORE! Stick around til 9pm for live music by Silk Tooth & Big Scaries!

Sip a species-themed cocktail & chug a biodiverse beer for a good cause!

Friday, April 4! 5–9pm! Speciation! 928 Wealthy St SE

Join us every Wednesday night for Geeks Who Drink trivia, a pub style quiz! Quizmaster Hayley will lead you on an adventure with topics ranging from celebrities in trouble to wordplay to bad television. Come by yourself, or with a team of up to six people!

Also, PizzaMI is back! They will be set up in our parking lot. Get here early to order some fresh za!

More info at the official blog: https://www.geekswhodrink.com/venues/1182372766/

Newbie? That’s OK!

• Bring a team (up to 6), or join one at the bar

• It’s free to play (but order something, ya cheapskate)

• Expect 70-ish questions over 2 hours

• Win free prizes*

• Go on to massive fame, fortune, a happy home life, self-realization, etc.

The last one was so fun we are doing it again! Saturday, March 25th (5-11pm), Speciation and Sometimes Sound are bringing you the next edition of “SYNC”, an evening of audiovisual pairings.

Featuring René Laloux's spacey, surreal, and subversive animated classic, "Fantastic Planet", set to live and selected sounds all night. We will have multiple projections, curated shorts, an event exclusive cocktail, and popcorn from Pop Notch!

The film will be accompanied by special DJ sets by Dreas (Grand Rapids Soul Club), and Sometimes Sound, as well as live sets by Silent Spirit, and Detroit's caitlin c. harvey. Expect magic moments of synchronization as sound meets image.

PizzaMI will be set up outside the taproom all day on March 29th!

They prepare their pizzas in an artisanal way; following the authentic, traditional way using only four ingredients (Flour, Water, Salt, & Yeast). The dough is made with high quality, never bleached, artisan flour that goes through a long fermentation process.

THE MOONRAYS return to the Speciation stage!

Don't miss out on their unique blend of Retro Surf, Cosmic Blues & Atomic Rock!

The Moonrays will be playing every last Friday of the month at Speciation.

Music from 8-11pm!

Join us for a magical evening of brews, crafts & tarot and a witchy barter faire. A Spring Solstice celebration at Speciation Cellars. A great way to connect with others and build community, just when we need it most.

Whether you're a seasoned witch, a curious seeker, or just love the mystical, this is a gathering you won’t want to miss.

Join us every Wednesday night for Geeks Who Drink trivia, a pub style quiz! Quizmaster Hayley will lead you on an adventure with topics ranging from celebrities in trouble to wordplay to bad television. Come by yourself, or with a team of up to six people!

Also, PizzaMI is back! They will be set up in our parking lot. Get here early to order some fresh za!

More info at the official blog: https://www.geekswhodrink.com/venues/1182372766/

Newbie? That’s OK!

• Bring a team (up to 6), or join one at the bar

• It’s free to play (but order something, ya cheapskate)

• Expect 70-ish questions over 2 hours

• Win free prizes*

• Go on to massive fame, fortune, a happy home life, self-realization, etc.

Candid Antics is a six-piece jazz fusion group rapidly gaining recognition as a top local act. They’ve earned accolades including winners of the 2023 Walk the Beat competition, finalists in the 2023 'The Stray' Battle of the Bands, and official artist performances at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. Playing a style of music dubbed "party-fusion" that combines intricate harmonies with timeless grooves, they breathe new life into the golden era of fusion, bringing it to the modern age.

Join the Michigan Prescribed Fire Council and the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds for a presentation and discussion of Michigan’s forests, prescribed fire, and local water quality conservation efforts. The Michigan Prescribed Fire Council (MPFC) formed in 1999 as a voluntary collaboration of individuals with a mission to protect, conserve and expand the safe use of prescribed fire on Michigan landscapes.

Join us every Wednesday night for Geeks Who Drink trivia, a pub style quiz! Quizmaster Hayley will lead you on an adventure with topics ranging from celebrities in trouble to wordplay to bad television. Come by yourself, or with a team of up to six people!

Also, PizzaMI is back! They will be set up in our parking lot. Get here early to order some fresh za!

More info at the official blog: https://www.geekswhodrink.com/venues/1182372766/

Newbie? That’s OK!

• Bring a team (up to 6), or join one at the bar

• It’s free to play (but order something, ya cheapskate)

• Expect 70-ish questions over 2 hours

• Win free prizes*

• Go on to massive fame, fortune, a happy home life, self-realization, etc.

Rabbit Fur create somber, dark, folk music played with classical guitar, bass, dream like vocals and thoughtful sentiments. All original songs. All songs written by Rabbit Fur.

Sound description: Classical & acoustic guitar, alternate tunings, bass guitar and vocal harmonies.
Soft sound, intricate notation.

9pm

Free!

As connoisseurs of tattoos ourselves, we are stoked to bring a pretty unique event to the taproom!

Jackie Rye from Betwixt Gallery will be popping up in our taproom on Saturday, March 15th from 12-6pm. They specialize in hand poked tattoos, so feel free to come check it out, even if you aren’t interested in getting a tattoo.

Pre-booked appointments and walk-ins are welcome as time permits. 

Flash or free-hand only - a flash book will be available to view in person. Designs range from tiny + complex ornamental pieces, twinkle sprinkles, nature and wildlife, weapons, and modern nostalgia. Free-hand botanicals or hand/finger tattoos welcome.

Pricing varies, minimum of $100 for appointments, $50 for walk-ins.  Book online at www.jackierye.studio

COFFIN PROBLEM

NECROMOON

SECRET SATAN

MUSIC AT 8PM

21+

We’re hosting another Euchre Tourney!

Join us in the taproom for a competitive night of euchre on March 13th at 6:30pm. First place team will win a $100 gift card and the second place team will win a $25 gift card. Team registration is $15, which includes your first round of drinks (one/person).

Join us every Wednesday night for Geeks Who Drink trivia, a pub style quiz! Quizmaster Hayley will lead you on an adventure with topics ranging from celebrities in trouble to wordplay to bad television. Come by yourself, or with a team of up to six people!

Also, PizzaMI is back! They will be set up in our parking lot. Get here early to order some fresh za!

More info at the official blog: https://www.geekswhodrink.com/venues/1182372766/

Newbie? That’s OK!

• Bring a team (up to 6), or join one at the bar

• It’s free to play (but order something, ya cheapskate)

• Expect 70-ish questions over 2 hours

• Win free prizes*

• Go on to massive fame, fortune, a happy home life, self-realization, etc.

The members of Space Bar have decades of musical experience between them, playing Jazz, Blues, Afro-beat, Rock, Folk, Bluegrass and Classical. These diverse backgrounds have coalesced into Space Bar’s unique “Avant-Fusion” sound. Playing primarily original compositions, the group’s horn heavy lineup adds a new perspective on what a “Jazz Band” can be. Is it Jazz, or does it just smell funny? There are no limits in space and Space Bar raises the bar of traditional rhythms and harmonies. Welcome to Space Bar. We look forward to seeing you out there!

Music starts at 8pm!

21+, but minors with a parent are okay!

FREEEEEEEEEEEEE

West Michigan-based band, The Smokin’ Dobroleles, has the uncanny ability to feed off each other and their audience to create the perfect mix of medicine to cure what ails you. Each musician has their own musical influences that span genres across the wide tapestry of music including bluegrass, folk, country, jazz, rock, reggae, hip-hop, and blues, the group likewise expresses themselves in a cornucopia of style and sound that is uniquely Smokin’-Dobrolelesque.

FREE - 9pm - 21+

Join us every Wednesday night for Geeks Who Drink trivia, a pub style quiz! Quizmaster Hayley will lead you on an adventure with topics ranging from celebrities in trouble to wordplay to bad television. Come by yourself, or with a team of up to six people!

Also, PizzaMI is back! They will be set up in our parking lot. Get here early to order some fresh za!

More info at the official blog: https://www.geekswhodrink.com/venues/1182372766/

Newbie? That’s OK!

• Bring a team (up to 6), or join one at the bar

• It’s free to play (but order something, ya cheapskate)

• Expect 70-ish questions over 2 hours

• Win free prizes*

• Go on to massive fame, fortune, a happy home life, self-realization, etc.

What now? Read to learn, grow, and act. Discover the best books on activism, capitalism, trans rights, immigration, racism, community organizing, autocracy, solidarity, mutual aid, and more.

Books & Mortar will be set up from 2-6pm with a curated collection for sale!

THE MOONRAYS return to the Speciation stage!

Don't miss out on their unique blend of Retro Surf, Cosmic Blues & Atomic Rock!

The Moonrays will be playing every last Friday of the month at Speciation.

Music from 8-11pm!

Join us every Wednesday night for Geeks Who Drink trivia, a pub style quiz! Quizmaster Hayley will lead you on an adventure with topics ranging from celebrities in trouble to wordplay to bad television. Come by yourself, or with a team of up to six people!

Also, PizzaMI is back! They will be set up in our parking lot. Get here early to order some fresh za!

More info at the official blog: https://www.geekswhodrink.com/venues/1182372766/

Newbie? That’s OK!

• Bring a team (up to 6), or join one at the bar

• It’s free to play (but order something, ya cheapskate)

• Expect 70-ish questions over 2 hours

• Win free prizes*

• Go on to massive fame, fortune, a happy home life, self-realization, etc.

Join us for another edition of Silent Book Club!

Here’s how it works:
-Bring Your Own Book
-There is no assigned reading material, so you can choose whatever book you prefer.
-All book formats are welcome, whether you have a physical book, an e-reader, or even an audiobook.
-Join us for an hour of dedicated reading in a cozy atmosphere.
-After the reading hour, feel free to socialize with others, or you can continue reading if you’d like!
-The event is completely free to attend

After YEARS of talking about it… we finally got the legendary MARK LAVENGOOD to play at the taproom!!

I would normally put a nice fancy bio here, but I think this quote sums it up:

“Mark Lavengood is truly a treasure in our lives and his music and positivity shine through the darkness like no other. A great songwriter and a master on the dobro, I am honored to call him my friend.” -Billy Strings

Truly spoken, sir Billy!

Get yer butt down here for this show!

In the midst of a psychedelic funk rock EDM fusion revolution stands Jay Cotter, a one-man musical maelstrom. Armed with a guitar, keyboard, and drum machine, he dives into live performances with a raw, improvisational fervor. Cotter's shows are not mere musical sets; they're a frenetic, mind-bending journey through sound, a testament to the wild spirit of creativity. In the throes of his sonic whirlwind, audiences find themselves in a realm where rules are bent and musical boundaries obliterated.

9pm // FREE // 21+

Think you know the outdoors… Prove it!

Grab your team (up to 6) and join us for a night of brews, good times, and outdoor trivia - covering everything from National & Local Parks to quirky outdoor facts. Prizes from FERAL for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place teams, plus giveaways all evening long.

Plus, PizzaMI will have their food truck set up for this event!

Speciation hosts Nature Night every third Thursday of the month! We always partner with great nature oriented orgs and people for unique events to plug you in with the local nature nerds.

Join us every Wednesday night for Geeks Who Drink trivia, a pub style quiz! Quizmaster Hayley will lead you on an adventure with topics ranging from celebrities in trouble to wordplay to bad television. Come by yourself, or with a team of up to six people!

Also, PizzaMI is back! They will be set up in our parking lot. Get here early to order some fresh za!

More info at the official blog: https://www.geekswhodrink.com/venues/1182372766/

Newbie? That’s OK!

• Bring a team (up to 6), or join one at the bar

• It’s free to play (but order something, ya cheapskate)

• Expect 70-ish questions over 2 hours

• Win free prizes*

• Go on to massive fame, fortune, a happy home life, self-realization, etc.

We are stoked to host the Grand Rapids Flodown… an unofficial Goose Pre-party!

From 12-5pm we will be hosting some unique vendors who will be slinging some heady merch!

A portion of proceeds will go to Western Sun Foundation and Arts in Motion

Permanent Marker Dyes

Turned Clouds Watercolor

Fox & The Cobra

The Light Within Dyes And Design

PLUS pizza from the Around Baking Company Food Truck!

We are stoked to welcome Bleau Otis to the Speciation Taproom! Bleau has a very unique and soulful voice that is nothing short of spectacular. He’s talented as a guitar player, vocalist and songwriter and is currently writing and recording for his debut album. Bleau also plays guitar for Billy Gunther and The Midwest Riders when not working on his own projects.

Free!

21+

Join us every Wednesday night for Geeks Who Drink trivia, a pub style quiz! Quizmaster Hayley will lead you on an adventure with topics ranging from celebrities in trouble to wordplay to bad television. Come by yourself, or with a team of up to six people!

Also, PizzaMI is back! They will be set up in our parking lot. Get here early to order some fresh za!

More info at the official blog: https://www.geekswhodrink.com/venues/1182372766/

Newbie? That’s OK!

• Bring a team (up to 6), or join one at the bar

• It’s free to play (but order something, ya cheapskate)

• Expect 70-ish questions over 2 hours

• Win free prizes*

• Go on to massive fame, fortune, a happy home life, self-realization, etc.